Reading your meter: Do you have a leak?

October 12, 2016

Some leaks are easy to spot. Dripping faucets, for instance, are hard to ignore. Yet, many leaks are hidden and can potentially waste thousands of gallons of water, driving up your water bill unexpectedly. To prevent this, follow these steps every six months. These tips are also helpful if you suspect you have a phantom water leak on your property:

Turn off all devices using water (taps, dishwasher, sprinklers, evaporative cooler, etc.) inside and outside of your home.

Find your meter. Water meters are most often located in front of your house near the sidewalk.

Remove the meter box lid. Note: Some meter box lids have a “flip lid” in the center. If so, open this instead of removing the entire lid. Be careful when lifting the box lid to prevent injury to yourself or damage to the meter or meter lid.

Verify the meter number to ensure you are checking the service for your residence. The meter number on your billing statement should match the one stamped on the meter.

Lift the meter cap lid to reveal the dial on the meter face (see diagram below). This dial monitors water use. TMWA reads your meter in thousands of gallons, which is generally indicated by the white dials. If the triangle (flow indicator) or needle moves while all water devices inside and outside the home are shut off, water is flowing through the meter and you have a leak. While some leaks, such as a dripping faucet, are easy to see, many are hidden. A leaky toilet is one of the biggest water wasters found inside the home.